Bailey's Birthday

Bailey, Katelyn, Avery

Today we went to a birthday party for our good friend Bailey who is turning 3! It was at a bounce house called Pump It Up. The kids had a blast and burned lots of energy. Mommy had time to talk with friends and Daddy ended up doing some jumping and sliding himself!

what a handsome dude!

a hot sweaty avery!

daddy and griffy

Chocolate??

Not long after Avery woke up from her nap yesterday, she asked me "What are you making me?" I was confused by her question - did she mean snack, dinner, what? I wasn't currently cooking anything so it wasn't like her super sensitive sense of smell was picking up on something...so I asked her what she meant - and her response? She said "Something CHOCOLATE?" I cracked up laughing at the random request that she didn't think was random at all. So when Brent called and said that he was on his way home from work, I told him that he would be his daughter's hero if he showed up with a box of brownie mix! Needless to say, she was thrilled when he arrived home bearing gifts - and she carried the box around until we made the brownies!

Tag, you're it!

My sister-in-law just "tagged me" in this game so thought I would pass it along...

Here are the rules:

1. Open your 1st Photo folder.

2. Scroll to the 10th photo.

3. Post the photo and the story behind it.

4. Tag 5 or more people.

So here is mine...

Our computer got struck by lightning right after Avery was born and all our pictures were fried...so my first photo folder starts when Avery was 2 months old. Here she is - all fat and sassy - enjoying her bath! That stage seems SOOO long ago..but it makes me smile to remember!

Now its your turn...I tag Christa, Cara, Lena, Lauren, and whoever else wants to participate!!

Home Depot Adventures

Quick Saturday update. Daddy, Avery and Griffin are alive. Fingers, toes, and the poor kids sitting behind us in Home Depot, all fine. Pet Smart will never be the same. Dogs across Durham will run when they see orange.

Avery and Griffin made Home Depot rain gauges. Glueing, hammering, sanding, screw driving are all improving with practice.

Here is Griffin's collection of pins, two Nascar display case pins and now a rain gauge pin. Mark your calendar's, April 2nd is Butterfly cage day. No telling what that will look like, but we will be there.

Weekend in Jasper

Last Tuesday when Brent got home from work, we packed up the kids and headed to Jasper. This was the last of our "travels" until after Graham is born. We had the place to ourselves for about 48 hours - and it was wonderful! The kids were so excited to be in a new place and play with toys they hadn't seen since we were there for Christmas. They did a great job entertaining themselves so Brent and I could actually relax! We enjoyed coffee by the fire in the morning and read/napped by the fire in the afternoons....

Nina and Big Daddy joined us Thursday afternoon. They kids were thrilled to see them and have playmates. Nina did more coloring and car racing than she has done in a lot of years!!! And Big Daddy had a little helper to assist on all of his projects. Brent and I enjoyed playing lots of cards and having some adult conversation!

enjoying some new bubbles

griffin finally has this bubble thing figured out!

we made cookies one night - and this is always the kids favorite part!

Meatball recipes

Here are 2 recipes that you can use the meatballs in....other than the obvious spaghetti and meatballs!

Italian Wedding Soup

Using a stockpot over medium heat, saute in 2 T olive oil until softened:
1 cup yellow onion, diced
1 cup celery, diced
1 cup carrot, diced
1 cup ham, diced
1 T garlic, minced

Add and simmer for about 15-20 minutes:
6 cups chicken broth
2 tsp dried oregano
2 tsp crushed red pepper flake
1 bay leaf

Drop in and cook until they float to the top, 3-4 minutes:
30 uncooked marble-sized meatballs

Stir in and cook until spinach wilts, about 2 minutes:
1 can white beans, drained and rinsed
2 cups whole spinach leaves
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley

Combine 2 beaten eggs and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese with a whisk. Off heat, stir egg mixture into soup.

Meatball Sub Sandwiches

Preheat oven to 450.

Prepare 4 6" hoagie buns by shaving a thin layer off the top and removing some of the bready interior so that you are left with a "submarine."

Brush the inside of hollowed out buns with olive oil.

Fill the bottom of each bun with mozzarella cheese and place them on a baking sheet. Bake until buns are lightly browned and cheese melts.

Fill subs with hot tomato sauce, then about 3 meatballs.

Top subs with more sauce and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese

Basic Meatballs

I learned early on in our marriage that Brent did NOT consider spaghetti as a main course! Not that I ate it regularly or anything, but its a cheap staple that you can always have in your pantry... but I only made it once in the first few years of marriage! About 3 years ago, I found this recipe for homemade meatballs. Its really easy, really good, and turns spaghetti into a meal acceptable by husbands!!

Preheat oven to 450.

Mix together using 2 forks (prevents compacting meat):
2 lbs ground chuck
1 cup unseasoned breadcrumbs

In separate bowl, stir together:

3/4 cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
1/2 cup whole milk
1/2 cup beef broth
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
3 eggs, beaten
2 T dried oregano
1 T minced garlic
1 T salt
1 T ground black pepper
2 tsp dried basil
1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
pinch nutmeg

Add meat mixture with other ingredients. Using a melon scooper or 2 spoons (or your hands!), shape the meat mixture into golf ball sized balls. Coat a shallow roasting pan with cooking spray. Space the meatballs on the pan so that they are not touching. Add 1 cup of beef broth to cover the bottom of the pan. Bake for 25 minutes or until meatballs are just cooked through.

You can freeze these once cooked and cooled. I also sometimes freeze 1/2 of the uncooked meat mixture and use it later to make meatballs for Italian Wedding Soup (you need uncooked meatballs for that recipe). I'll post that recipe next...